The "Puyuma Express" will run round trips to Taitung starting July; first five days of the month offer 20% off ticket prices

▲ After the launch of the Puyuma Express, the trip to Taitung will be one hour shorter. (Photo / from Wikimedia Commons)

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

Taiwan Railways is adjusting its schedule on July 16 in line with the completion of railway electrification between Hualien and Taitung and the introduction of new trains, with an estimated over 500 train services seeing significant time changes. Additionally, starting July 1, the "Puyuma Express" will add four direct and semi-direct round-trip services daily between Taipei and Taitung, with a 20% discount on ticket prices from July 1 to 5.

The Hualien-Taitung railway electrification project will officially open on June 28, with free trial rides for schoolchildren and disadvantaged groups on June 29 and 30, before entering full service in July. Taiwan Railways stated that tickets for the discounted "Puyuma Express" fares from July 1 to 5 will go on sale starting June 17, and in the future, passengers taking the direct Puyuma Express to Taitung will only need 3.5 hours, saving one hour compared to the current travel time.

After July 16, the Puyuma Express will increase its "Taipei–Taitung" route to 12 services on weekdays and 18 on holidays. The exact schedule will be announced on the Taiwan Railways website on June 2, and passengers can begin booking from July 2.